Rural Development
programs
India is a country of villages
and about 50% of the villages have very poor socio-economic conditions. Since
the dawn of independence, concerted efforts have been made to ameliorate the
living standard of rural masses. So, rural development is an integrated concept
of growth and poverty elimination has been of paramount concern in all the
consequent five year plans. Rural Development (RD) programmes comprise of
following:
i. Provision of basic
infrastructure facilities in the rural areas e.g. schools, health facilities,
roads, drinking water, electrification etc.
ii. Improving agricultural
productivity in the rural areas.
iii. Provision of social services
like health and education for socio-economic development.
iv. Implementing schemes for the
promotion of rural industry increasing agriculture productivity, providing
rural employment etc.
v. Assistance to individual
families and Self Help Groups (SHG) living below poverty line by providing
productive resources through credit and subsidy.
RDP can be divided in to four categories:
1. Tribal Development
2. Rural Infrastructure
Development
3. Rural Employment Schemes and,
4. Other Programmes
Rural
Employment Schemes
a. Mahatma Gandhi National
Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA -Implemented by the Ministry of
Rural Development , National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is the flagship programme of the Government
of India that directly touches lives of
the poor and promotes inclusive growth. The Act aims at enhancing livelihood
security of households in rural areas of the country by providing at least 100
days of guaranteed wage employment in a financial year to every household whose
adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. The Act came into force on
February 2, 2006.
b. Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojna - The Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar
Yojana (SGRY) was launched on 25 September, 2001 by merging the on-going
schemes of Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) and the Jawahar Gram Rozgar Yojana
(JGSY) with the objective of providing additional wage employment and food
security, alongside creation of durable community assets in rural areas. The
programme is self-targeting in nature with provisions for special emphasis on
women, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and parents of children withdrawn
from hazardous occupations. While preference is given to BPL families for
providing wage employment under SGRY, poor families above the poverty line can
also be offered employment whenever NREGA has been launched. The annual outlay for the programme is
Rs.10,000 crore which includes 50 lakh tonnes on food grains. The cash
component is shared between the Centre and the States in the ratio of 75:25.
Food grains are provided free of cost to the States/UTs. Minimum wages are paid
to the workers through a mix of minimum five kg of food grains and at least 25
per cent of wages in cash. The programme is implemented by all the three tiers
of Panchayat Raj Institutions. Each level of Panchayat is an independent unit
for formulation of Action Plan and executing the scheme. Resources are
distributed among District Panchayat, Intermediate Panchayats and the Gram
Panchayats in the ratio of 20:30:50.
c. National Food For
Work Programme - The National Food for Work Programme was launched in November, 2004 in 150 most
backward districts of the country, identified by the Planning Commission in
consultation with the Ministry of Rural Development and the State governments.
The scheme was 100 per cent centrally sponsored. The programme has since been
subsumed in National Rural Employment Guarantee Act which has come in force in 200 identified
districts of the country including 150 NFFWP districts.
d. Swarnjayanti Gram
Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) - The SGSY
was launched as an integrated programme for self-employment of the rural poor
with effect from 1 April 1999. The objective of the scheme is to bring the
assisted poor families above the poverty line by organising them into Self Help
Groups (SHGs) through the process of social mobilisation, their training and
capacity building and provision of income generating assets through a mix of
bank credit and government subsidy. The scheme emphasizes establishment of
activity clusters through selection of key activities based on aptitude and
skill of the people, availability of resources and market potentiality. The
scheme adopts a process approach and attempts to build the capacities of the
rural poor. It provides for involvement of NGOs/CBOs/Individuals/Banks and Self
Help Promoting Institutions in nurturing and development of SHGs, including
skill development. The scheme provides for the cost of social intermediation
and skill development training based on the local requirement. Flexibility has
been given to the DRDAs/States in the utilisation of funds for training,
sanction of Revolving Fund, subsidy for economic activity based on the stage of
development of groups.
e. National Social
Assistance Program (NSAP) - Article
41 of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance
to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and
in other cases of undeserved want within the limits of its economic capacity
and development. In accordance with the Directive Principles of State Policy,
the Government of India introduced National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)
in 1995. The NSAP aims at ensuring minimum national standard for social
assistance in addition to the benefits that states are currently providing or would
provide in future. At present,
NSAP comprises of the
following five schemes for BPL persons:-
i) Indira
Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS);
ii)
Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS);
iii)
Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS);
iv)
National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS); and
v)
Annapurna
Rural Infrastructure Development (RID)
a) Prime Minister’s
Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) -The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) was
launched on 25 December 2000 as a fully funded Centrally Sponsored Scheme. The
primary objective of the PMGSY is to provide connectivity to all the eligible
unconnected habitations of more than 500 persons in the rural areas (250
persons in the hilly and desert areas) by good quality all-weather roads.
b) National Institute
of Rural Development – NIRD is autonomous bodies of Ministry of Rural
Development .Mission of NIRD is To examine and analyse the factors contributing
to the improvement of economic and social well-being of people in rural areas
on a sustainable basis with focus on the rural poor and the other disadvantaged
groups through research, action research and consultancy efforts. To facilitate
the rural development efforts with particular emphasis and focus on the rural
poor by improving the knowledge,skills and attitudes of rural development
officials and non-officials through organising training, workshops and
seminars.
c) Bharat Nirman - is a time-bound business plan for action in
rural infrastructure. Under Bharat Nirman, action is proposed in the areas of
irrigation, rural housing, rural water supply, rural electrification and rural
telecommunication connectivity.
i. Indira Awaas
Yojana -The Government of India is implementing Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)
since the year 1985-86 to provide financial assistance for construction /
upgradation of dwelling units to the below poverty line (BPL) rural households
belonging to the scheduled castes, scheduled Tribes and freed bonded labourers
categories. From the year 1993-94, the scope of the scheme was extended to
cover non-Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes rural BPL poor, subject to the
condition that the benefits to non-SC/ST would not be more than 40% of the
total IAY allocation. The benefits of the Scheme have also been extended to the
families of ex-servicemen of the armed and paramilitary forces killed in
action, 3% of the Houses are reserved for the rural Below Poverty Line
physically and mentally challenged persons, from 2006-07 onward, funds and
physical targets under IAY are also being earmarked for BPL minorities in each
state. Under the scheme, financial resources are shared between the centre and
the states on a 75:25 basis.
ii. Irrigation -There
is a definite gap between irrigation potential created and the potential
utilized. Under Bharat Nirman it is planned to restore and utilize irrigation
potential of 10 lakh hectare through implementation of extension, renovation
and modernization of schemes alongwith command area development and water
management practices.
iii. Rural Road -
To upgrade rural infrastructure, the Government has formulated a proposal for
providing the road connections to more than 38,484 villages above 1000
population and all 20,867 habitations above 500 populations in hilly and tribal
areas.
iv. Rural Water
Supply -Rural drinking water is one of the six components of Bharat Nirman.
During Bharat Nirman period, 55,067 un-covered and about 3.31 lakh slipped-back
habitations are to be covered with provisions of drinking water facilities and
2.17 lakh quality-affected habitations are to be addressed for water quality
problem.
v. Rural
Electrification - Ministry of Power
has introduced the scheme Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidhyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) in
April 2005, which aims at providing electricity in all villages and habitations
in four years and provides access to electricity to all rural households. This
programme has been brought under the ambit of Bharat Nirman.
vi. Telephone
Connection - Telecom connectivity constitutes an important part of the
effort to upgrade the rural infrastructure. Under the Bharat Nirman Programme,
it will be ensured that 66,822 revenue villages in the country, which have not
yet been provided with a Village Public Telephone (VPT), shall be covered.
3. Tribal Development
a) State Wise
Programme - The Government continues its efforts for the welfare and
development of Scheduled Tribes, who constitute eight per cent of the total
population of the country. Of these, 1.8 million belong to the Primitive Tribal
Groups (PTGs). The objective of the empowering scheduled tribes through a
three-pronged strategy of Social Empowerment, Economic Empowerment and Social
Justice. List of State Wise Programme-
i. Scheduled
Castes & Scheduled Tribe Welfare Department, MP
ii. Tribal
Development Programme, Chhattisgarh
iii.
Institute of Tribal Studies & Research, HP
iv. Tribal
Development Programme, Maharashtra
v. National
Advisory Council, Tribal Welfare
vi. Tribal
Development, Tripura
vii. Integrated
Tribal Development Agency, Paralakhemundi
viii. Social
Welfare & Tribal Development, Gujarat
b) Tribal Development
Projects, Plans & Policies –
Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) for ST students - The objective of
the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the Scheduled Tribe students
studying at post matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to
complete their education. These scholarships are available for studies in India
only and are awarded bythe Government of the State/Union Territory
Administration to which the applicant actually belongs i.e. where permanently
settled.
Up gradation of Merit of ST Students- The
ST students, because of their educational deficiencies, are unable to take advantage
of the various avenues, which have become available through reservation of
seats. Consequently, the quota reserved for them in technical and professional
courses like Engineering and Medical, remains under-utilized. Some students who
are able to get admission in these courses, with relaxed eligibility
conditions, often find it difficult either to complete the course or they take
more than the specified time for completion of the instructional programme.
Their inadequate educational preparation also prevents their employment in
occupations where entry is on the basis of competitive examinations. The Scheme provides for 100% central
assistance to the States and Union - Territories for implementation of
the Scheme.
Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of Hostels for ST boys and ST Girls - While the Scheme of Hostels
for ST Girls is in operation since the 3rd Five Year Plan, the Scheme for of ST
Boys was started with effect from the year 1989-90.During the 10th Five Year
Plan both the schemes have been merged into a single scheme.
Rajiv Gandhi National
Fellowship for ST Students - The objective of the scheme is to provide
fellowships in the form of financial assistance to students belonging to
Scheduled Tribes to pursue higher studies such as M. Phil and Ph.D. The scheme covers all
Universities/Institutions recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC)
under section 2(f) of the UGC Act and is
implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for Scheduled Tribe students. The fellowship under RGNF will be on the
pattern of UGC Fellowships awarded to research students pursuing regular and
full time M. Phil and Ph.D. courses
Top Class Education for ST Students - The scheme aims at
recognizing the need to support meritorious ST students who gain admission in
identified quality educational institutions, by providing full financial
support to the selected meritorious students which would enable them to
complete their courses of higher studies in these selected academic
institutions of the country.
Establishment of
Ashram Schools in Tribal Sub-Plan Areas - Construction of Ashram schools
for the primary, middle, secondary and senior secondary stages of education as
well as up gradation of existing Ashram Schools for Scheduled Tribe boys and
girls including PTGs. 100% funding for establishment of Ashram Schools i.e.
school buildings, hostels, kitchen and staff quarters for girls in TSP
areas. In addition, 100% funding for
establishment of Ashram Schools for boys in only the TSP areas, (if any), of
the naxal affected districts identified by Ministry of Home Affairs from time
to time ( list of naxal affected districts as specified by MHA annexed).
All other Ashram schools for boys in TSP States will, however, continue
to be funded on 50:50 bases. 100%
funding will be provided to UTs.
Vocational Training
Centres in Tribal Areas - Scheduled Tribes are the most marginalized
section of the society, therefore to assist their socio-economic development;
there is an imperative need to provide more employment avenues and income
generation opportunities. It is aimed at upgrading the skills of the tribal
youths in various traditional/modern vocations depending upon their educational
qualification, present economic trends and the market potential, which would
enable them to gain suitable employment or enable them to become self-employed.
Scheme of Coaching
for Scheduled Tribes - The scheduled tribes coming from deprived families
and disadvantaged environment find it difficult to compete with those coming
from a socially and economically advantageous background. To promote a more
level playing field, and give ST candidates a better chance to succeed in
competitive examinations, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs supports a scheme for
coaching for disadvantaged ST candidates in quality coaching institutions to
enable them to appear in competitive examinations and succeed in obtaining an
appropriate job in the public/private sector.
National Overseas Scholarships for Scheduled Tribe Students
(Scholarship for Studies Abroad) - The scheme provides financial assistance
to students selected for pursuing higher studies abroad in certain subjects at
the Masters level, and for Ph. D and Post- Doctoral research programmes.
Bachelor level courses in any discipline are not covered under the scheme. 15
awards per year would be sanctioned to ST students as under category of ST, 13 numbers
of awards and under the category of PTG, two awards only.
Special Central
Assistance to Tribal Sub Plan - The Special Central Assistance (SCA) is
provided by the Ministry of tribal Affairs to the State Government as an
additive to the State TSP. SCA is primarily meant for family-oriented
income-generation schemes in sectors of agriculture, horticulture sericulture
and animal husbandry cooperation. A part of SCA (not more than 30%) is also
permitted to be used for development of infrastructure incidental to such
income generating schemes. The objective of the strategy is two folds:
Socio-economic development of STs
Protection of trials against exploitation.
Grants under Article
275 (1) of the Constitution of India - Such sums as Parliament may by law
provide shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India in each year as
grants-in-aid of the revenues of such States as Parliament may determine to be
in need of assistance, and different sums may be fixed for different states.
Revised Scheme of Grant in Aid to Voluntary Organizations working for
welfare of Scheduled Tribes (with
effect from 1st April 2008) - The
prime objective of the scheme is to enhance the reach of welfare schemes of
Government and fill the gaps in service deficient tribal areas, in the sectors
such as education, health, drinking water, agro-horticultural productivity,
social security etc. through the efforts of voluntary organizations, and to
provide an environment for socioeconomic upliftment and overall development of
the Scheduled Tribes (STs). Any other innovative activity having direct impact
on the socio-economic development or livelihood generation of STs may also be
considered through voluntary efforts.
- Scheme of Development of
Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) - There are certain tribal communities who
are having low level of literacy, declining or stagnant population, and
pre-agricultural level of technology and economically backward. 75 such
groups in 15 States/UTs have been identified and have been categorized as
Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). Their problems and needs are quite
different from other Scheduled Tribes. Under this scheme States/UTs have
been requested to allocate requisite funds from Central Sector/Centrally
Sponsored and State Plan schemes for their socio-economic development.
- Schemes of Strengthening
education among Scheduled Tribes Girls in a low literacy Districts - The
scheme aims to bridge the gap in literacy levels between the general
female population and tribal women, through facilitating 100% enrolment of
tribal girls in the identified Districts or Blocks, more particularly in
naxal affected areas and in areas inhabited by Primitive Tribal Groups
(PTGs), and reducing drop-outs at the elementary level by creating the
required ambience for education. Improvement of the literacy rate of
tribal girls is essential to enable them to participate effectively in and
benefit from, socio-economic development.
- Scheme of Investment in
TRIFED - TRIFED was set up with the prime objective of providing marketing
assistance and remunerative prices to Scheduled Tribes communities for
their Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and Surplus Agricultural Produce (SAP)
and to wean them away from exploitative private traders and middlemen.
TRIFED was established by the Government of India in the year 1987 as a
Multi-State Cooperative Society by registration under the Multi State
Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 (now the Multi State Cooperative Societies
Act, 2002). It is a national level
cooperative apex body.
- Scheme of Grants-in-Aid to
STDCCs for MFP Operations - The majority of tribals live in and around
forests. Apart from timber, the
major forest produce, forests abound with non-timber forest produce like
tamarind, lac, gum karaya, amla, mahua flowers/seeds, honey, sal/siali
leaves, tendu patta, soap-nut, shikakai, myrobalan, hill grass, nuxvomica,
etc., called the Minor Forest Produce (MFP). Tribals depend heavily on the
MFP for their livelihood. Initially
tribals used to collect MFP for their own consumption. In case of some excess stock, they used
to sell these in the near by weekly shanties for barter or for cash. The
Central Sector Scheme of ‘Grants-in-Aid to State Tribal Development
Cooperative Corporations (STDCCs) etc. for Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Operations’ was thus launched in Nov.
1992 to help these STDCCs to ensure that tribals got remunerative prices
for their MFP. It was estimated
that this operation could generate gainful employment for about 10 million
persons per year.
Tribal Development
Cooperative Corporations (TDCCs) - Most of the States have set up Tribal
Development Cooperative Corporations (TDCCs) or Minor Forest Produce (Trading
and Development) Federations (MFPTDFs) or Forest Development Corporations (FDCs) for dealing with MFP items.
Other Programmes -
a) Council For
Advancement Of People’s Action And Rural Technology (CAPART ) - CAPART supports
project proposals from voluntary organisations working in rural areas. CAPART
was formed by amalgamating two agencies the 'Council for Advancementof Rural
Technology' (CART) and People's Action for Development India (PADI). CAPART is
an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860,and is
functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of
India. Today, this agency is a major promoter of rural development in India,
assisting over 12,000 voluntary organizations across the country in implementing
a wide range of development initiatives.
b) Diksha – The
Ministry of Rural Development has created a portal Diksha in website
–rural.nic.in. State Institute of Rural Development (SIRDs) have already registered ,some Extension
Training Centres (ETCs) have also registered in website. All ETCs
have to register in website.
Programs for Equality and Women Empowerment
The Session explored the challenges and opportunities for
empowerment and social sustainability in the context of the Rural Women's
Development and Empowerment Project (Swa-Shakti) in India. The Swa-Shakti
project, which is expected to close in mid-2004, covers 9 states, 56 districts
(about 10% of all districts in India), has helped form more than 17,000
Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and has reached more than 240,000 beneficiaries. The
Swa-Shakti project worked to establish linkages and partnerships between SHGs
and existing government institutions, including Panchayat Raj Institutions
(PRI), as well as with NGOs and the private sector.
Swayamsiddha
Swayamsidha is an integrated project for the development and
empowerment of women. It was introduced during 2001 to 2002 replacing the
erstwhile Indira Mahila Yojana. The long term objective of the scheme is to
achieve an all round empowerment of women, especially socially and economically
by ensuring their direct access to, and control over, resources through a
sustained process of mobilization and convergence of all ongoing sectoral
programmes. The most important component of the programme is the formulation,
implementation and monitoring of block specific composite projects for 4 to 5
years incorporating the following four elements
a) Group formation or mobilization activities,
b) Community oriented innovative interventions,
c) Other schemes of W and CD Deptt.,namely Swawlamban, STEP,
AGP, etc. if there is a felt need,
d) Convergence of schemes of other departments, whether
under GOI or State Government initiative.
Sponsored by state government. Introduced on 1st Jan 2001
and valid up to 31st March 2015.
Support to Training
& Employment Programs (STEP)
As per the 1991 Census, there are 407.1 million women
representing 47.1 percent of Country’s total population. Of those 91.40 million
are in work force and 90 percent of them are in the informal sector with no
legislative protection and with worst condition of working. The National Commission
for Self Employed Women and Women in the Informal Sector (1988) which made a situational
review of women in the informal Sector had suggested introduction of protective
measures which would ensure guarantee of employment and income generation
minimum wages, welfare and support services, training and up gradation of
skills, etc. Towards this end, a programme for women (STEP) was launched in
1986 as one of the measures to ensure wellbeing of women in the traditional
informal sector.
OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME
i. Mobilizing women in small viable groups and making
facilities available through training, access to credit and other inputs.
ii. Provide training for skill up gradation
iii. Enabling groups of women to take up
employment-cum-income generation programmes of their own, or to access wage
employment.
iv. Provide support services for further improving and
employment conditions of women and for access to health care, literacy, legal
literacy, and other information.
SERVICES
The Scheme aims at
providing as integrated package of the following services to women to enable them economically more viable,
independent and raise their socio-economic status.
• Up
gradation of skills through training.
• Better
and sustainable employment opportunities
• Backward
and forward linkages
• Facilitation
of organization of women
• Support
services with the coverage of Health Check-ups, Referral Service, Mobile
creches
Education facilities
SECTORS COVERED
• Agriculture,
• Animal
Husbandry,
• Dairying,
• Fisheries,
• Handlooms,
• Handicrafts,
• Khadi and
village Industries
• Sericulture.
• Social
Forestry
• Waste
Land Development and
• Any other
locally appropriate sector*
*The list of such sectors to be finalized and revised from
time to time by the Ministry in consultations with State Govt.
Swawlamban (NORAD)
Swawlamban ( NORAD) Scheme is being implemented by the
Department of Women and Child Development, Government of India with partial
assistance from Norway since 1982. Its
basic objective is to provide training and skill to women to facilitate them
obtains employment or self-employment on a sustained basis. The target group under the scheme is the poor
and needy women, women from weaker sections of the society, such as Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes, etc.
Financial assistance is provided to undertake training programmes for
women in both traditional as well as non-traditional trades.
National Mission for
Empowerment of Women (NMEW)
The National Mission for Empowerment of Women aims to
empower women socially, economically and educationally and to strengthen the
process that promote all round development of women through Co-ordination and
Convergence of Schemes/ Programmes of participating Ministries/
Department. The Mission plan to engage
suitable non-profit agencies which could undertake the execution of
demonstration projects covering multiple components of Women Empowerment such
as Social, Economic, Legal Empowerment and be responsible for setting up and
running common service cum facilitation centres at the district, tahsil and
village levels. The NMEW was launched on 8 March 2010 to ensure economic and
social empowerment of women. The NMEW is piloting the ‘convergence model’
across the country in 32 select districts.
Under this scheme government has started the first point of contact for
woman which is known as the Poorna Shakti Kendra (PSK). These are the main
focus of NMEW: Access to health, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene
facilities for women.
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh
(RMK)
Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)(The National Credit Fund for
Women) was setup on 30.03.1993 under the aegis of Department of Women and Child
Development, Ministry of Human and Resource Development, New Delhi. It was
registered under Society Registeration Act 21, 1860. The area of operation of
the Kosh covers whole of India. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh provides micro-credit to
women Self Help Groups (SHG’s) through eligible organizations in both rural and
urban areas. Its builds the capacities of SHG's and partner organizations by
imparting trainings in Financial Management, Project Management, Enterprise
Development, Skill Upgradation. In other words RMK aims at holistic empowerment
of women through micro finance.
Indra Gandhi Matritva
Sahyog Yojana
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD)
formulated a new Scheme for pregnant and lactating mothers called Indira Gandhi
Matritva Sahyog Yojana (IGMSY) – a Conditional Maternity Benefit Scheme. Under
this Scheme, a cash incentive of`4000 will be provided directly to women 19
years and above for the first two live births subject to the woman fulfilling
specific conditions relating to maternal child health and nutrition. Cash
incentive will be provided in three installments, between the second trimester
of pregnancy till the infant completes 6 months of age. Women enrolled under
IGMSY will be encouraged to avail JSY package also for institutional delivery
and vice-versa. However, there is no cash incentive under IGMSY at the time of
delivery since cash incentive for this is already provided under JSY. IGMSY is
a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which full grant-in-aid would be provided to
State Government (SGs)/Union Territories (UTs). It has been approved by the
Government on pilot basis in 52 selected districts across the country.
Accredited Social
Health Activists (ASHAs)
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are community
health workers instituted by the Government of India's Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare (MoHFW) as part of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).The
Mission began in 2005; full implementation is targeted for 2012. Once fully
implemented, there is to be "an ASHA in every village" in India, a
target that translates into 250,000 ASHAs in 10 states.ASHAs are local women
trained to act as health educators and promoters in their communities.
Selection of ASHAs-
ASHAs must primarily be female residents of the village that
they have been selected to serve, who are likely to remain in that village for
the foreseeable future. Married, widowed or divorced women are preferred over
women who have yet to marry since Indian cultural norms dictate that upon
marriage a woman leaves her village and migrates to that of her husband. ASHAs
must have class eight education or higher, preferably be between the ages of 25
and 45, and are selected by and accountable to the gram panchayat (local
government). If there is no suitable literate candidate, a semi-literate woman
with a formal education lower than eighth standard, may be selected. Although
ASHAs are considered volunteers, they receive outcome-based remuneration and
financial compensation for training days.
National Nutritional
Programs
Integrated Child
Development Services Scheme -
Launched on 2nd October 1975, today, ICDS Scheme represents
one of the world’s largest and most unique programmes for early childhood
development. ICDS is the foremost symbol of India’s commitment to her children
– India’s response to the challenge of providing pre-school education on one
hand and breaking the vicious cycle of malnutrition, morbidity, reduced
learning capacity and mortality, on the other.
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme was
launched in 1975 with the following objectives:
i. To
improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6
years;
ii. To lay
the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the
child;
iii. To
reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout;
iv. To
achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the
various departments to promote child development; and
v. To
enhance the capability of the mother to look after the normal health and
nutritional needs of the child through proper nutrition and health education.
The above objectives are sought to be achieved through a
package of services comprising:
supplementary
nutrition- This includes supplementary feeding and growth monitoring; and
prophylaxis against vitamin A deficiency and control of nutritional anaemia.
All families in the community are surveyed, to identify children below the age
of six and pregnant & nursing mothers. They avail of supplementary feeding
support for 300 days in a year. By providing supplementary feeding, the
Anganwadi attempts to bridge the caloric gap between the national recommended
and average intake of children and women in low income and disadvantaged
communities.
Immunization - Immunization
of pregnant women and infants protects children from six vaccine preventable
diseases-poliomyelitis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, tuberculosis and
measles. These are major preventable causes of child mortality, disability,
morbidity and related malnutrition. Immunization of pregnant women against
tetanus also reduces maternal and neonatal mortality.
Health check-up - This
includes health care of children less than six years of age, antenatal care of
expectant mothers and postnatal care of nursing mothers. The various health
services provided for children by anganwadi workers and Primary Health Centre
(PHC) staff, include regular health check-ups, recording of weight, immunization,
management of malnutrition, treatment of diarrhoea, de-worming and distribution
of simple medicines etc.
referral services -
During health check-ups and growth monitoring, sick or malnourished children,
in need of prompt medical attention, are referred to the Primary Health Centre
or its sub-centre. The anganwadi worker has also been oriented to detect
disabilities in young children. She enlists all such cases in a special
register and refers them to the medical officer of the Primary Health Centre/
Sub-centre.
pre-school non-formal
education - Its programme for the three-to six years old
children in the anganwadi is directed towards providing and ensuring a natural,
joyful and stimulating environment, with emphasis on necessary inputs for optimal
growth and development.
Nutrition & Health
education - Nutrition, Health and Education (NHED) is a key element of the
work of the anganwadi worker. This forms part of BCC (Behaviour Change
Communication) strategy. This has the long term goal of capacity-building of
women – especially in the age group of 15-45 years – so that they can look
after their own health, nutrition and development needs as well as that of
their children and families.
Midday Meal Programs
With a view to enhancing enrollment, retention and
attendance and simultaneously improving nutritional levels among children, the
National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) was
launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme on 15th August 1995, initially in 2408
blocks in the country. By the year 1997-98 the NP-NSPE was introduced in all
blocks of the country. It was further extended in 2002 to cover not only
children in classes I-V of government, government aided and local body schools,
but also children studying in EGS and AIE centres. In September 2004 the scheme
was revised to provide cooked mid day meal with 300 calories and 8-12 grams of
protein to all children studying in classes I-V in Government and aided schools
and EGS/AIE centers. In July 2006 the scheme was further revised to provide
assistance for cooking cost at the rate of (a) Rs.1.80 per child/school day for
States in the North Eastern Region, provided the NER states contribute Rs.0.20
per child/school day, and (b) Rs.1.50 per child/school day for other States and
UTs, provided that these States and UTs contribute Rs.0.50 per child/school
day.
The objectives of the mid day meal scheme are:
• Improving the nutritional status of children in classes
I-V in Government, Local Body and Government aided schools, and EGS and AIE
centres.
• Encouraging poor children, belonging to disadvantaged
sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on
classroom activities.
• Providing nutritional support to children of primary stage
in drought affected areas during summer vacation.
Special Nutrition
Programs (SNP) –
The programme was launched in the country in 1970-71. It
provides supplementary feeding of about 300 calories and 10 grams of protein to
preschool children and about 500 calories and 25 grams of protein to expect at
and nursing mothers for six days a week. This programme was operated under
Minimum Need Programme. The programme was taken up in rural areas inhibited
predominantly by lower socio-economic groups in tribal and urban slums. Fund
for nutrition component of ICD programme is taken from the SNP budget. The
Special Nutrition Programs Unit administers the Child and Adult Care Food
Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP). As the
administering agency, this unit provides training, technical assistance,
monitoring, interpretation of federal regulations, audits, and nutrition
education.
National Nutritional
Anemia Prophylaxis Programs -
The programme was launched in 1970 to prevent nutritional
anemia in mothers and children. Under this programme, the expected and nursing
mothers as well as acceptors of family planning are given one tablet of iron
and folic acid containing 60 mg elementary iron which was raised to 100 mg
elementary iron, however folic acid content remained same (0.5 mg of folic
acid) and children in the age group of 1-5 years are given one tablet of iron
containing 20 mg elementary iron (60 mg of ferrous sulphate and 0.1 mg of folic
acid) daily for a period of 100 days. This programme is being taken up by
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Division of Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare. Now it is part of Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme.
National Iodine
Deficiency Disorders Control Programs -
Iodine is one of the essential micronutrient for human
growth and development. Iodine deficiency in food lead to physical and mental
disorders in child and adults. Releasing the magnitude of problem the Govt. of
India launched a 100% Centrally assisted National Goitre Control Programme,
which was renamed as National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme
with the following objectives:-
a) Survey to assess
the magnitude of Iodine Deficiency / Disorder including Goitre.
b) Supply of
Iodated salt in place of common salt.
c) Resurvey to
assess the extend of Iodine Deficiency Disorders and impact of Iodates salt.
d). Laboratory monitoring of Iodated salt and Urinary Iodine
excretion
e). Health education.
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